wildthing Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 Guys...help me out here. I am seeing a ton of spike bucks on my farm... no joke...from the front half to the back half...between June and now...I bet I have seen 2 dozen different spike bucks. I know our farm carries (present and past) some good genetics...but do I need to worry about the number of spike bucks on my farm vs. doe? I beleive this is a good thing...hopefully a few of these will really mature into some jim dandies, but am I missing something here? What do you guys think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 Sounds like you're having a really down year for nutrition. You're right when you say that SOME of those spikes will probably develop into decent bucks, while others just won't ever quite make it. If you were interested in intensively managing your herd for genetics, this would be a good opportunity to eliminate some undesirable antler traits by taking most or all of those spikes. But you'd need to watch your buck to doe ratio closely to make sure that didn't get skewed. And yes, by doing that you'd probably remove SOME future trophy class bucks, but you'd also remove almost ALL of those future "management" bucks. On the ranch I hunt, we shoot every spike on sight. The result, after 6 years, is that have almost zero spikes. 99% of our 1.5 year old bucks are 4, 6, or 8 pointers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildthing Posted October 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 Monster buck...thanks for the tips. Our farm is 133 acres in western Pa. My neighbor farmers always plant alfalfa, corn, and wheat on our farm. The back of our farm is covered with Oak and crab apple. Many different natural water sources too and I also supplemental feed in the winter, spring, and summer. There is also a number of open fields that have clover and I specifically have 2 acres of Tecomate clover seed in a plot. I am not sure if in PA I can harvest a spike buck for the sake of management. The laws have changed here. A few years back the game commission implemented an antler restriction so that young deer have time to mature...because the problem was all the spike bucks where getting shot and couldn't mature. Hunters were complaing about not seeing as many mature bucks to harvest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 ...A few years back the game commission implemented an antler restriction so that young deer have time to mature...because the problem was all the spike bucks where getting shot and couldn't mature. Hunters were complaing about not seeing as many mature bucks to harvest. Ah, that explains it. If you start protecting spikes, then those bucks that are genetically predisposed to be spikes will be allowed to multiply unchecked. I think you're seeing the results of that now. AR's are a good tool to manage the age structure of the herd, but you have to be really careful with them or you'll end up protecting genetically undesirable bucks, and those will become your majority breeders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 That does seem like an unusually high number of spikes. Dont see too many spikes around here. Usually the spikes we do see are very young deer. Sounds like a buck with poor genetics passed on his traits 2 years ago, and you are seeing the results now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildthing Posted October 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 I have been scouting from a treestand...so I have been able to get really good looks at these deer. On some of the spikes, I can still see where they had spots...in a way pretty neat. Most of these deer look to only be 1 1/2 yrs. old. None of them have big bodies...they look like young deer all the way around. I have also seen some 125-140 class deer running around too...which for around my area is real good. In PA and especially western Pa...the deer harvest is very high and my neighbors always have their farm "red tagged" by the game commission for crop damage. I am like the average hunter...trying to better his property and game within the legal game commission laws. I can't shoot these deer for the sake of managment...so they will at some level be breeding doe in about a month or so. I guess I can only feed these deer nutrition that will aid in the growth...but the genes will be important too. Kinda feel at a crossroads... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest decotathehunter Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 get rid of them Hunt em if no one else call on me and i'll do the job. At least for 2 of em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildthing Posted October 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 can't just "hunt em" in PA...they need to have 4 legal points on at least one side of the rack... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad6639 Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 Hunt em if no one else call on me and i'll do the job. At least for 2 of em If your implying shooting them anyways, I think your in the wrong place. We dont stand for breaking game laws, even if they are foolish. You have to play by the rules, no matter how stupid they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abear Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 A few years ago thats all I was seeing was a lot of spikes. Then they disappeared and i started seeing a lot of bucks. It could just be the year or the nutrition wasn't great this year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildthing Posted October 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 I like the fact that I am seeing bucks in general...even though spikes...but I am seeing a lot of them...so it leads me to believe that a few of them may mature. There are some real nice bucks running around our area...so I am thinking the genes must be out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildthing Posted October 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 Also...don't get me wrong...I like having antler restrictions in PA. PA is one of the, if not the, most heavily hunted states in the country. We sell a lot of licenses. For years and years...any buck with a legal point was shot by "weekend hunters". Seeing a big buck was few and far between. Now...I am noticing a lot more big buck for sure...so I like what this law has done to protect the young bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest doublelung45 Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 Late Rut? Did something happen last fall or the fall before that may have caused a delay in the breeding? If there was a late rut and does were not being bred til real late in the winter and if there was a harsh winter it could maybe affect antler growth. Dunno, just another idea. I wouldnt worry much, we get a lot of picts of spikes and see the same deer years later decent headgear. Hope thats the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest antlerhead Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 I Have Heard Pros And Cons To Harvesting Spikes. But Since You Have Antler Restrictions, Let Them Walk. Evidence Suggests That Some Not All Spikes Can Turn Into Booners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bow_hunter101 Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 No wonder Pennsylvania's management plan is controversial. I'd try putting out some salt/mineral blocks and just make sure the deer are getting proper nutrition for antler growth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildthing Posted October 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 I supplement feed in the winter and spring...plus I have clover food plots in and my neighbors area farmers and always have corn, wheat, and alfala planted. Another part of my property is covered in crab apples and oaks too. we have good genetics...and let me mention...the spikes I am seeing are YOUNG deer. I am not seeing mature deer with spike racks...these guys are young...1 1/2 old at best... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bow_hunter101 Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 Well, sounds like the deer have plenty to eat. It's good to be seeing different year classes of bucks, but 2 dozen? That sounds pretty borderline overpopulated. I'm not sure how the weather has been in PA, but it's been so dry here this year that deer are majorly expanding their home ranges due to water shortage. All of the creeks where I hunt are bone dry and only 2 ponds are holding water. If the deer are forced to travel farther for water this could possibly be a reason for seeing so many. I have seen many more deer this year than usual because they're having to travel much more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 If you ever get the chance. Charles Alsheimer of Deer and Deer Hunting Magazine has a great pictorial/slideshow of what a spike horn can become. It's worth seeing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildthing Posted October 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 my farm is 133 acres...and I am surrounded by about another 600 acreas...lakes, ponds, natural streams everywhere... I have seen a lot of deer scouting...just also seeing a lot of 1 1/2 old spike bucks as well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted October 4, 2007 Report Share Posted October 4, 2007 Did something happen last fall or the fall before that may have caused a delay in the breeding? If there was a late rut and does were not being bred til real late in the winter and if there was a harsh winter it could maybe affect antler growth. Dunno, just another idea. I wouldnt worry much, we get a lot of picts of spikes and see the same deer years later decent headgear. Hope thats the case. I tend to agree with the extended breeding season that resulted in later fawns. Later fawns are playing catch up with the other fawns and we all know that nutrition goes to the body before it goes to the antlers. I also believe that most if not all whitetail biologists will tell you that you can't distinguish a yearling (1 1/2) buck's genetic traits at that age. Most won't show you inferiority until 2 1/2 or even 3 1/2 yrs of age. Since you have a 4pt antler restriction, I guess you have to let them all walk anyway!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.